Professor to Discuss Archaeological Finds in Turkey at Science Forum

J. P. Dessel, Steinfeld Associate Professor of Near Eastern History and Archaeology, has been excavating a site in the ‘Amuq Plain of Turkey since 2008.

He’ll discuss the latest finds from the site at the Science Forum on Friday.

The Science Forum is a weekly brown-bag lunch series that allows professors and area scientists to discuss their research and the general public to learn about science through a conversational presentation.

The weekly presentations begin at noon on Fridays in room C-D of Thompson-Boling Arena. Attendees can bring lunch or purchase it at the arena. Each presentation is forty minutes long and is followed by a question-and-answer session. It is free and open to the public.

Dessel is co-field director of the site, called Tell Tayinat. His presentation will focus on archaeological finds dating to the Iron Age, between 1200 and 500 BCE. The finds— which he calls “spectacular”— include a seventh century temple with temple archives and monumental statues including a five-meter statue of a king with an inscription on the back in Luwian, an extinct Middle Eastern language.

Future science forums will feature:

November 9: Alison G. Boyer, research assistant professor of ecology and evolutionary biology, will present Trouble in Paradise: Extinction and Conservation of Tropical Island Birds.

November 16: Rob Heller, professor of journalism and electronic media, will discuss A Brief Yet Incomplete History of Photojournalism.

November 23: no meeting, Thanksgiving break.

November 30: Sue Hume, clinical associate professor of audiology and speech pathology, will present Good Vibrations—Care and Use of the Professional Voice.

The Science Forum is sponsored by the Office of Research. For more information about the Science Forum, visit the Office of Research website.